The Belgian became the second-most expensive player in the history of the Reds when he was brought in by Brendan Rodgers for £32.5 million last summer after scoring 49 goals in 101 matches in three seasons at Aston Villa.

However, since his arrival at Anfield he has been unable to replicate any kind of repeat of that success, netting just eight times in 36 appearances and only finding the net once in his 16 matches in 2016.

The 25-year-old has appeared to have a fractured relationship with Rodgers' successor Klopp since the German arrived as manager in October, and that tension seems to be getting worse with the former Borussia Dortmund man publicly dressing down the striker in the 3-2 defeat to Southampton last weekend.

Keown claims that Benteke's failure to make a big impact at Anfield can be rooted back to the fact that he was not the right signing for the club to make last summer and has only been exacerbated by the style of football preferred by Klopp.

He wrote in his Daily Mail column: "Klopp had a go at him for missing a big chance last weekend, and clearly he’s not happy at the moment.

"Benteke’s power and aerial ability can make him a very useful player but Liverpool don’t want to play to his strengths. Klopp wants a high-energy striker who can close down defenders and link the play, while Benteke doesn’t really have the mobility to win back possession in this way.

"When they first signed him I wondered how he would fit into their system, and it seems like most teams are much less direct these days. Players like Benteke have gone from being match-winners to bit-part players."

Tom Nightingale

After starting to write about football due to lack of any great ability on the pitch, Tom is an NCTJ-qualified sports reporter who has written for Swansea City, the Birmingham Mail, and numerous other publications. An avid Aston Villa fan, he still hasn't got over them not turning up in the 2015 FA Cup final.